Letter 3040: Although a multitude of cares presses upon our compassionate mind and our customary diligence turns to the various...

XL. King Theoderic to all the provincials established in the Gauls. [1] Although a manifold throng of considerations enters into the mind of our piety, and with our accustomed diligence regards the various parts of the kingdom, we have nonetheless looked with haste upon remedies for your benefit, since in our conscience it is a kind of injury to delay things that will be of profit, nor can we judge that to be pleasant which has been held in suspense by an ungrateful postponement. For when maladies are growing worse, the harm is allowed to rage unchecked when the medicine is deferred. [2] You, therefore, having been laid waste by the ferocity of the enemy, are to recognize that, in proportion to the degree of your injury, the tributary obligation has been remitted for the fourth indiction, because we take no satisfaction in exacting what the payer is known to offer in sorrow. Yet this is on such terms that, from those properties which are agreed to be untouched, the expenses of the army may be supported: for devotion ought not wholly to abandon those whom it knows to labor on its own behalf. For a defender is feeble when he is fasting, nor does the spirit furnish boldness, when valor has been deprived of bodily strength.

XL. UNIVERSIS PROVINCIALIBUS IN GALLIIS CONSTITUTIS THEODERICUS REX. [1] Quamvis sensum nostrae pietatis turba multiplex cogitationis intraret et diversas regni partes consueta sedulitate respiceret, festine tamen remedia vestrae utilitatis aspeximus, quoniam apud conscientiam nostram laesionis genus est profutura tardare nec possumus aestimare iucundum, quod ingrata fuerit dilatione suspensum. nam aegrescentibus morbis laesio debacchari permittitur, cum medicina differtur. [2] Vobis itaque hostili feritate vastatis pro qualitate laesionis per indictionem quartam relaxatam agnoscite tributariam functionem, quia non gratulamur exigere, quod tristis noscitur solutor offerre. ita tamen ut de illis, quae constat intacta, exercituales iuventur expensae: quia in totum devotio deserere non debet quos pro se laborare cognoscit. invalidus est siquidem ieiunus defensor nec animus ministrat audaciam, cum virtus corporeo fuerit robore destituta.